Oh, I probably can't afford any of these. I am still paying off those damn vet bills.

TDK: There was a stretch there where I thought they had said "canon, schmanon" (when Gordon was dead). Apparently, for me at least, this is the do-that franchise. I spent that whole stretch of time with my brain split between watching the movie and trying to work out various dominoes of plot and fanchise.

I kept waiting for what I thought of as the "Wash", a second major character death. Apparently Joss has warped me.

The bomb/Joker's prison break was Tragic (in the classical sense). Seeing where it was going, knowing that they weren't going to be able to help doing it/stop it was really compelling.

I question their decision to use Gordon's son. Given his last line in the film, I could easily see him having a plotline in the next film (some sort of external conscience for Gordon). Even if they're never going to do Batgirl, for the people who immediately know who Harvey Dent is, Babs Gordon is an immediately significant character. To not use that seems suspect to me (especially since they're re-writing the Gordon sprog('s/s') age(s) from the first film).

Next time, I think we may get one of my favorite plot types: the small band of heroes who are on the run from potentially everyone (e.g.-Who's Sound of Drums, HP's Deathly Hallows).

I ::heart:: Jim Gordon. And I'd like a Gary Oldman, please. Brilliant cast, all-around.

I'm going to try to see a 12:30 pm showing of TDK. I'm hoping that the earliness of it will mean that it won't sell out.

I really loved The Dark Knight. I actually went in with moderate hopes for the movie. I just wanted to be entertained. Entertained I was. Very much so.

My main thought leaving the theater was Wow. Followed closely by "I cannot believe they did that."

I agree with some reviewers I've read that this movie is a post-September 11th allegory and I think it is very effective.

i'm hoping to see it tomorrow afternoon or evening.

Gary Oldman as Jim Gordon has been one of the most pleasent surprises in both films, even more than his Sirius Black, where I thought the casting was spot on. Casting him in the role is something I would have never considered, but it works SO well.

Also, with the Dark Knight, did everyone notice all the special guess character actors showing up? I mean, Batmanuel and Eric Roberts were the obvious ones, but William Fitchner, Anthony Michael Hall and that weird ass return by Cillian Murphy? I wonder if there were others in less prominent roles - off to the imdb.

Oh, one question on the story details: Gordon said Harvey had killed 5 people including two cops. I know he killed the one in the bar, but I thought the female cop got the good head up, and Harvey just knocked her out. Who was the other cop (or was that a continuity gaffe)? Damn, Aaron Eckhart was good, and the damaged face was truly horrifying. I'm guessing they had to CGI that (with a green mask over half the actor's face, I presume) given how much less of his face it looked.

Also, one little thing that was gnawing at me until I got home. Heath Ledger kept reminding me of someone else with some of the lip/tongue/twitchy line readings he was doing, and I finally realized it was like Jeff Goldblum's performance towards the end of The Fly.

Gary Oldman as Jim Gordon has been one of the most pleasent surprises in both films, even more than his Sirius Black, where I thought the casting was spot on. Casting him in the role is something I would have never considered, but it works SO well.

I haven't seen TDK yet, but I totally agree with you. I was so unenthused about Oldman as Jim Gordon, and more than just about any of the other actors in Batman Begins, he completely disappeared into the character. It was stunning.

We're planning on seeing TDK tonight, even if it means fighting the crowds. I saw Batman Begins on opening night -- with a migraine -- and it's just FUN to see it in a full theatre, especially (as with, for instance, the LotR movies, or Harry Potter) when the theatre is likely full of fanboys/girls.

(At the end of BB, when Gordon says to Batman, "I never said 'thank you," and Batman replies, "And you'll never have to," and dove off the building and then the credits rolled, I think I did a fist pump and said "FUCK YEAH!!!" Because the guy next to me [I went by myself] pounded me on the shoulder and said "HELL fuck yeah!!!" You know, just the convivial fraternity of fanboys.)

when Gordon says to Batman, "I never said 'thank you," and Batman replies, "And you'll never have to,"

Is that straight from the comics? Or just true to their relationship?

I couldn't believe how crowded the midnight shows were. There were at least 4 large theaters (probably more), and mine was completely packed. Several people came in costume too.